u/jawadur1

Failed to get into my preferred university and subject (CSE). Got accepted elsewhere but it's not what I wanted.

My two options:

• Gap year – ~6 months to prep and retry next admission cycle. Risk: might not get in again and lose a year.
• Accept current offer – Start on time, move forward, but at a university I'm not excited about.

Long-term goal is a career in tech (software/CS). I know the university isn't everything, but a better one would open more doors locally.

For those who've been here — did you take the gap year or accept and move on? Any regrets either way?

Would love honest takes, not just 'follow your heart' advice.

So I just got my admission results and I didn't get into my first choice university or the subject I wanted (CSE). I did get accepted somewhere, but it's not where I wanted to be and honestly I'm not thrilled about it.

Now I'm stuck between two options:

Option A – Take a gap year and retry I'd have around 6 months to prepare and give the admission test again next cycle. The upside is I might get into a better university with the subject I actually want. The downside is... what if I still don't make it? Then I've lost a year AND end up in the same situation.

Option B – Just admit to the university I got It's not my dream place, but it's something. I can start my degree on time, not lose a year, and maybe make the most of it through self-study and projects.

For context: my long-term goal is to get into a good tech job, maybe eventually work at a top company or start something of my own. So the university I attend does matter to me — but I also know it's not everything.

Has anyone been in this situation? Did you take the gap year or just move forward? How did it turn out?

Any advice would be really appreciated. I'm genuinely overthinking this.